Roads to Success wrapped its 2026 summer youth employment program after placing more than 1,200 participants in paid work experiences

# What happened Roads to Success ran its 2026 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), placing more than 1,200 young people ages 14 to 24 in paid summer work across New York City. The program concluded with an end-of-summer picnic on Friday, Aug. 14, on Randall's Island where participants and staff gathered to share experiences.

# Who took part and where they worked Participants could choose industries that matched their interests. Worksites included in-person, hybrid, and remote placements. Fields listed by the organization included educational services, healthcare/medical, social services, technology, business and finance, hospitality, retail, animal care and veterinary services, marketing and public relations, and sports and recreation.

• Han Sit Thwe, 18, was placed at In Style USA and described the experience as useful for building a resume and pursuing a future in fashion.

# Skills, courses, and academic opportunities Roads to Success emphasized both soft skills and resume-building. Through a partnership with College Now, 60 SYEP participants were offered college credit and paid courses at City College. Course topics included AI and machine learning, financial management, and digital game design.

The program also included the organization's 10th Annual Success Summit in July, a day-long career and educational exploration held in partnership with the City College of New York.

# Organizational reach and history Founded in 2001, Roads to Success reports it has served over 100,000 youths across New York City. The organization provides support for ages 4 to 24 and says its year-round programs reach more than 8,000 youths and young adults annually through services that include academic support, social-emotional learning, workforce development, financial literacy, wellness, and college and career readiness.

# Leadership perspective Roads to Success CEO Sheila Duke framed the summer jobs program as an important step into adulthood for many participants and highlighted the value of paid work experiences for young people's development.

# Closing and next steps for participants The program's picnic on Randall's Island served as a capstone event where participants and staff reflected on the summer. Some participants left with specific follow-up opportunities, such as returning to worksites as volunteers, and with college credits or course experience that can be added to resumes.